The Conservatory of Performing Arts will be adding screenwriting as a major under the cinema and digital arts program. The major was approved in December 2008 and will be offered in the fall 2009 semester. 
The initial idea for creating the screenwriting program came from the five concentrations in cinema and digital arts, which are producing, directing, cinematography, screenwriting and editing.

“This is something that’s been in the works for probably two or three years. The plan was to begin with our first class of students this fall of 2009. The idea came from students in the current Bachelors of Arts degree. Students who were doing the screenwriting concentration within that degree wanted to focus more on the writing aspect,” said Fredrick Johnson, chair and associate professor of cinema and digital arts.

Screenwriting is writing that is done for a movie, television show or Web series. As a major, students will learn the necessary tools to succeed as a professional screenwriter.

“This particular program is to develop writing for media. We do that within the cinema and digital arts program, but we don’t have as many classes as necessary,” said Nelson Chipman, a teaching artist in the cinema and digital arts program.

In the required and elective classes that will be available, students will study everything from the classics to modern works along with learning about media writing, feature film writing and the history of cinema. Many of these classes will include table reads, where ideas will be pitched. Students will then pick projects and develop the ideas.

“The screenwriting majors will collaborate on a consistent basis with the cinema and digital arts students. This will include writing short scripts for directors, to writing and producing their own scripts,” Chipman said. “The first year will be exactly the same for all students. Everyone will go through a production course, so all the writers will know what it is like to be behind the camera and to produce something.”